A Breath of Fresh Air – Heretics Attack the Resurrection

I know it’s odd to consider liberal and heretical illogic that disparages Biblical faith in a good way. But that’s how I’m seeing it. It at least has unified the SBC blogging world from attacking their own.

The sarcasm being aside, though, the situation is rather irritating. In case you’ve missed it, Titanic director James Cameron is filming a ‘documentary’ on a 1980 archaelogical find of an ossuary box (casket). The bottom line is he believes the find contains the bones of Jesus. Yeah, right!

You can watch Dr. Al Mohler defend the orthodox position on Larry King here or read the complete transcript here.

And the best blog on the topic with helpful links is here.

Welcome to 21st century Corinth.

There is a strong movement, particularly within some younger pastors to indulge their carnality under a cloak of spirituality. Specifically, these churches host “Bible studies” or some type of community forum in bars, pubs, breweries or some other venue where alcoholic consumption isn’t just tolerated, it’s encouraged.

I understand some of these folks are genuinely trying to reach people with the gospel wherever they are (including bars). They are not the consideration of this post. However, many of these churches seem bent on getting as closely aligned with the world as they possibly can.

I’ve been contending for awhile, that if Southern Baptists weaken our position on alcohol abstinence, the next social issue will be gambling. Well, today a friend sent me a link to Damascus Road Church in Seattle, Washington. They are an Acts 29 church plant and have one of the most aggressive and offensive “Beer & Bible” promotions of all the pro-alcohol Acts 29 churches.

In what appears to be a promotional email for their men’s Bible study, Damascus Road Church says:

“In the Northwest, we consider coffee a meal and Beer liquid bread. AND we know from the Psalms, God has given us bread to strengthen man’s heart. (Psalm 104:15). So, join us from some hard words and strong brew as we gather like men to learn about what God expects of us as men.”

But the really offensive part is their promotion of “Men’s Poker Nights.” Yep, you read that correctly.

Damascus Road tells you:

It's not about poker, its about relaxing, enjoying the company of some men, making grunting noises, and laughing at Junior High humor. If you're a man, and you have 10 bucks, here's your chance to prove your poker skills or lack there of. Depending on the number of men who show, we will have several $5 games in before the night is through. Bring your favorite soothing beverage (barley pop, soda, water, etc.) and bring something fattening to eat! For the same price as a movie, you can enjoy some laughs and, if you're lucky, go home with a little extra. Invite your buddies!

I’ve been arguing that these new Libertines would soon be promoting gambling (after all, the Bible nowhere gives an outright prohibition!), equating it with money spent on some other form of entertainment.

Guys like me keep seeing this common thread in a lot of Acts 29 churches. And we’re wondering to what degree are our Southern Baptist churches being influenced by this kind of (un)Biblical application?

I have no doubt many, if not most, of these churches are orthodox in their doctrine. But I find the application of their doctrine (if in fact it is orthodox) woefully lacking.

Titus 3:5-6

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Black History Month, William Wilberforce and the SBC Alcohol Controversy

It is right and proper to acknowledge the role of William Wilberforce in his tireless effort to end the English slave trade. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of its abolishment and an upcoming movie, Amazing Grace, chronicles his story in this noble crusade.

I’ve been asking around for some feedback on the issue of slavery and its parallels to the alcohol controversy within the SBC. I haven’t gotten much from the few sources that I’ve queried. No one who adheres to a “moderate drinking” persuasion either in theory or practice has quieted my objections that the same thing that can be said of alcohol can be said of slavery. So, I’ll boldly publish these queries and see what wisdom the blogging world might shed on my thinking.

Of course, Southern Baptists have a dark history with this dark and evil institution. When our Baptist mission board refused to appoint slaveholders as missionaries, key leaders gathered in Augusta, Georgia in 1845 and formed the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Southern Baptists repented of their ties to slavery in a formal resolution adopted in 1995.

I suppose there remain a few racist SBCers lurking under a few rocks here and there. But our denomination has transcended the South and is now present in all 50 states and is America’s largest Protestant denomination. There are no voices crying for the return of slavery. Thankfully, we universally acknowledge the sin of slavery.

However, I’ve noticed a few parallels with a debate currently being waged on our most recent resolution, this one centering on alcohol.

Advocates of moderate drinking allege two major tenets to justify their position: 1) the Bible nowhere gives an outright prohibition of consuming alcohol; 2) the Bible sometimes portrays alcohol in a positive way. I will not here, at this time, delineate those arguments fully, since most have a good grasp on our controversy. Neither will I put forth the overwhelming textual evidence that portrays alcohol in a negative light. But, may I daringly say, those were the same arguments made by our Baptist forebears to justify slavery.

“Wine is sometimes portrayed positively in the Bible!” sounds mighty close to Richard Furman’s (pastor of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, South Carolina) pronouncement back in 1838: "The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example."

And factually, Furman wasn’t lying. There are Bible passages that portray slavery in a positive way, most notably Leviticus 25:44: “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life.”

Regarding slavery we’d say, that isn’t the full counsel of God. So why can’t we say that regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages?

“But Jesus turned water into wine!” Yes, and he also healed a Roman centurian’s slave (Matthew 8:5ff) with nary a word of rebuke against slavery. So, if we are to conclude that Jesus’ making of wine in the first century is an endorsement of 21st century distilled alcohol, then can we relax about the enslavement of people in our world today?

“But Paul told Timothy to drink wine!” Yes, for medicinal purposes. And he also told the runaway slave Onesimus to return to his Christian slave-holding master Philemon. If Paul was endorsing beer drinking, why wouldn’t we consistently argue he was endorsing slavery?

“But we drink in moderation, there is no abuse of alcohol!” Baptist pastor Basil Manly encouraged his slave holding colleagues with the same logic. In his 1836 “Lecture on Ants” to the Charleston Literary and Philosophical Society, he said: “It surely ought to comfort the abolitionists to know that although the ants do hold slaves, the masters are humane and gentle, and the slaves are contented, industrious, and happy.” Ah, yes, no abuses there.

No one within the SBC is arguing slavery or racial bigotry. Fortunately, the counsel of God has thunderously invaded our hearts and minds on this issue. In fact, I imagine this post will be highly offensive to many who hold to “moderate drinking.” But I believe the parallels are significant. I can only say that our pilgrimage to resist slavery and view it as ungodly and unbiblical was not based on any singular ‘smoking gun’ verse; but on the Holy Spirit implanting the mind of God in our hearts. We saw the whole counsel of God. Knowing Scripture never contradicts itself, we saw the “pro-slavery” passages in their proper view. I hope we will soon do the same regarding alcohol.

Black History Month

One of the darkest days of U.S. history occurred on April 4, 1968. On that day, a prominent preacher stepped onto the balcony outside the Motel Lorraine in Memphis, Tennessee, and was shot dead by an assassin’s bullet. The preacher’s name was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Had he lived, I believe America would be different today—and better. We may still have been struggling with pockets of racism, but this passionate follower of Jesus would have assailed (and conquered) the high places of racial prejudice. He certainly would have prevented the ‘takeover’ of the civil rights movement by proponents of ‘black power’ and the movement’s subsequent derailment from its true purpose.

But he would have done more, because the greatness of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not exclusively in his attacks against racism. His greatness lied in his core belief—that the principles of Jesus Christ would give us a just and better society. And because of that essential belief, King is more than just a great black leader, he’s a great American. I’ve no doubt that Dr. King would have crusaded against pornography and abortion and a host of other evils that subjugate the human spirit. Dr. King was not a perfect man. He struggled with (and was too often overcome by) significant sin issues. But he was a clarion voice for the church to be engaged with its culture.

His “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” ranks, in my mind, as one of the greatest pieces of literature in American History. At one point King wrote:

“So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an arch-defender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often even vocal sanction of things as they are.”

February is Black History month throughout our nation and it’s a good time to reflect on the contributions of some fantastic Americans who happened to have been black. Two of my favorite Americans were black (Dr. Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglas). Their writings have helped to significantly shape my thinking about the church and its role in society. If you’ll study them and their writings, they’ll teach you one of the greatest lessons you could learn—the church of Jesus cannot be silent or idle in the face of injustice and immorality.

In the days of slavery, the prominent American poet Henry David Thoreau once went to jail rather than pay his poll tax to a state that supported slavery. His good friend Ralph Waldo Emerson hurried to visit him in jail and, peering through the bars, exclaimed: “Why, Henry, what are you doing in there?” Thoreau replied, “No, Ralph, the question is, what are you doing out there?”

Long before Dr. King had a dream of racial equality, Jesus had a vision for His church and prayed “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). Paul wrote “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). And in one of our favorite worship songs we sing of the redeemed church from “every tribe, every tongue, every people, every land” (Revelation 5:9). I love to see people of color in our congregation. It gives us a better visual picture of heaven. I feel closer to God when I’m worshipping with other races and I long to see our church even more integrated.

But leaving philosophical and religious writing aside, consider some more practical examples like the refrigerator, the clothes dryer, the ironing board, the fire extinguisher and the lawn sprinkler. All of these were invented by black Americans. We need to confront our own biases and prejudices and we need to lead our nation to confront its prejudices and racism. Mostly, we need to be engaged in the great battles of our time and advance God’s cause of justice.

Worth Reading

Baptist Press published a brief article by Douglas Baker that is worth your reading time. Baker’s insights, entitled “Inerrancy Isn’t Enough” encapsulate one of the key issues facing the Southern Baptist denomination. Here's a sampling.

It is not enough to trot out the usual statements about the importance of inerrancy and expository preaching. While these are laudable expressions of orthodoxy and practice, the reality remains that the mere mention of these words now too easily evokes expected agreement and adulation (a good hearty “Amen” in Baptistspeak), but little application and practice in pulpits and Sunday School classrooms.

Read the entire article here.

A Mess in Texas

Texas Governor Rick Perry, normally a friend of conservative families, rammed a controversial edict into Texas law, requiring young girls entering the sixth grade to be injected with a human papilloma vaccine (HPV). HPV is a horrible (sexually transmitted) disease and the vaccine does show promise of protecting against cervical cancer, though evidence is not conclusive.

However, some concerns are readily apparent.

Why by-pass the legislature? This seems to be an area where public participation, parental concerns, religious viewpoints and political debate should be expressed. Governor Perry has squashed this great hallmark of American government and is acting more akin to the British monarchy from which we revolted. And the requirement is a further erosion of parents’ rights over their children’s health. Parents, not government, are responsible for their children.

Why the hurry? Seems like the pharmaceutical company Merck’s monopoly on the vaccine and their subsequent contributions to Governor Perry’s political campaigns and that of a Republican Women’s group might be in play. With Merck’s rival GlaxoSmithKline close to releasing their own vaccine (Cervarix) perhaps that’s why Governor Perry is acting so hastily and irresponsibly.

Dawn Richardson, co-founder of Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education (PROVE) said of Perry's order: "There are bills filed. There's no emergency except in the boardrooms of Merck, where this is failing to gain the support that they had expected."

And why vaccinate? HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. Sure, some young girls will behave in a sexually irresponsible way. But we are now going to forcibly vaccinate young girls who are chaste?

This is another sad example of a pro-family leader’s betrayal of causes important to American families. Let’s pray this injustice is corrected.

More Gobbledygook

Associated Press reporter David Lieb writes about Senator Matt Bartle’s bill to reverse Amendment 2, Missouri’s new (and America’s first) clone-to-kill law.

Matt Bartle is a relentless and conviction-driven politician. Incidentally, his 17 hour filibuster of Warren Erdman's appointment to the MU Board of Curators is a record for a one man filibuster. On the eve of the 200th anniversary of William Wilberforce’s successful campaign to abolish the slave trade in England, one can readily think of some similarities between Bartle and Wilberforce.

What struck me in Lieb’s article was this statement:

“Bartle's proposal would reverse language in last fall's ballot measure that allows a certain form of embryonic stem cell research to occur in Missouri. Instead, it would ban the cloning procedure and allow the Legislature to restrict state funding for research."

It is interesting how Lieb rightly identifies “a certain form of embryonic stem cell research” as a “cloning procedure.” That’s the trouble with Amendment 2. It legalizes the cloning procedure of embryonic stem cell research, while at the same time, making cloning illegal.

So, is cloning legal or illegal in Missouri? Well, with its 2,100+ words, Amendment 2 went to great legal gymnastics to re-define cloning. Still, reporters like Lieb and regular citizens like me know the truth. Embryonic stem cell research is cloning.

Update on Anti-war Vandalism

Wayne Allard, Republican senator from Colorado, is at least one politician who plans to address the blatant disregard of law enforcement that occurred this past weekend by some anti-war protestors. “I was absolutely dismayed by the vandalism and the blatant disregard for respect of property that occurred at our Nation’s Capitol this weekend,” Allard said in a press release.

With so many Democratic politicians involved in the protest, it seems Speaker Pelosi, who oversees the U.S. Capital Police (USCP), may have interfered with law enforcement. The Hill, a DC newspaper reported police officers were livid when they were told to fall back by U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Phillip Morse andDeputy Chief Daniel Nichols. "They were the commanders on the scene," one source said, who requested anonymity. "It was disgusting."

This episode seems to have credible evidence of an egregious abuse of power. Perhaps Senator Allard can expose the truth, though I doubt much will come of it.

Anti-war protest fails to bring clarity

The anti-war rally held in Washington DC this past Saturday had many interesting quirks associated with it. While I respect those who have legitimate concerns about this war (I’ve even expressed a few of my own reservations) we are hard pressed to take this movement seriously. Here are a few of my reasons:

First, there’s the old mantra that we shouldn’t be in innocent Iraq. This time, a pre-teen was exploited to carry that banner. 12-year-old Moriah Arnold, who had organized an anti-war petition at her school told the crowd: “Now we know our leaders either lied to us or hid the truth. Because of our actions, the rest of the world sees us as a bully and a liar.”

Well, our leaders haven’t lied. They were misled by incomplete intelligence, but both Presidents Clinton and Bush suspect foul play in Iraq, along with the United Nations and the world community. And while we didn’t find everything we thought we’d find there, we have found plenty of terrorist activity. Trying to paint President Bush as a lying power-monger undermines the credibility of this movement. It shows there’s a significant faction of the anti-war movement that seems more concerned about destroying President Bush than protecting America. I’d take heart if I thought their movement had to resort to children bantering this mantra, but I’m pretty sure there were more than a few adults who would have been glad to have said what little Miss Arnold said.

Second, “Hanoi Jane” Fonda came out of retirement. Any movement that revives her traitorous voice is suspect.

Third, one of the Hollywood cohorts who attended, Tim Robbins stated: “Nixon -- Richard Nixon -- talked to the walls. Bush is talking to God. But it's not a god I recognize.”

I’m not sure what he was talking about, but Robbins needs to read the Bible to recognize God. Maybe then he’ll learn something about justice, war and respect for government leaders. And Robbins better recognize God before he meets Him who has “eyes like a flame of fire”.

Fourth, and most troubling of all, was the vandalism of the protest. MSNBC billed it this way:

The rally on the National Mall unfolded peacefully, although about 300 protesters tried to rush the Capitol, running up the grassy lawn to the front of the building. Police on motorcycles tried to stop them, scuffling and wrestling with some and setting up barricades along the front steps. Protesters chanted “Our Congress” as police faced off against them. Their ranks grew and several dozen shouting “We want a tour” broke away and tried to get into a side door.

But Family Research Council reports Capitol police were under orders not to arrest anyone. So, as protestors defaced public property, officers stood idly by. FRC has called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to explain why no attempt was made to halt or arrest these vandals.

"For any other group, such acts would mean immediate arrest. This time, the Capitol police's hands were tied because they were ordered to stand down by their Chief of Police who answers to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). To add insult to injury, public employees had to come in on their day off, at taxpayer's expense, to clean up the mess the protestors left behind.

According to the news reports the rank and file police officers were 'livid' that they were ordered not to arrest anyone. Since the Capitol police answer to Speaker Pelosi, the question arises, did the Chief of Police give the 'no arrest' order or did it come from someone else? Whoever is responsible for the order needs to explain why the physical destruction of taxpayer property is acceptable.

The U.S. Capitol belongs to every American and the building, and those who represent us within it, deserve respect. Surely, the tens of millions of dollars the
American people have invested in the security of their Capitol means there is videotape that will assist in the identification and arrest of the perpetrators. Speaker Pelosi should direct that investigation and prosecution go forward. If the U.S. Capitol has a new policy on such acts, does it apply to everyone - or just to those whose views the majority in Congress favors?"

Seems like that's quite a story the news media isn't telling. But what else is new? Few Americans know the successes we're having in Iraq.

Hate Crimes Legislation Meant To Silence Christians

The House Judiciary Committee is already holding hearings on H.R. 254 (also known as “David’s Law”, a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), which will establish a new federal offense for hate crimes and will require a separate federal criminal prosecution for state offenses tried under these new provisions. A sentence of life imprisonment could await those convicted.

“Hate crimes” legislation is designed to protect homosexuality. Family Research Council highlights this example of the end result of “hate crimes” legislation from our northern neighbor Canada.

A Catholic city councilor in British Columbia has been ordered to pay a homosexual couple $1,000 for publicly saying that their lifestyle is "not normal and not natural." The man in question, John DeCicco, was simply restating the church's teaching on homosexuality, but the state considered his personal beliefs "hate speech" under Canada's hate crimes law. While DeCicco has since apologized to the men, the couple's complaint has resulted in a hefty fine and potential court proceedings. In an interview, DeCicco said, "In this great nation of ours, we can express our opinions and, when you can't, there's something wrong."

"The proposed federal hate crimes bill is a dangerous threat to our civil liberties," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "Having been charged under Pennsylvania's hate crimes law for declaring the truth about homosexuality, I can assure you that if this bill is passed and signed into law, it will be used to put Christians behind bars," Marcavage continued.

Marcavage was referring to an October 2004 incident, when eleven Christians with his organization were arrested in Philadelphia for expressing their religious views against homosexuality during "OutFest" a publicly-funded celebration of homosexuality. After spending 21 hours in jail, District Attorney Lynne Abraham's office charged them under Pennsylvania's hate crimes law called "Ethnic Intimidation," along with a host of other felony and misdemeanor charges. The charges were eventually dropped, but the protestors, if convicted would have faced up to 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines each.

"H.R. 254 is nothing more than an attempt to provide federal prosecutors with the ammunition to police our thoughts, which will ultimately lead to the death of the First Amendment," Marcavage said. "This bill is unnecessary, unconstitutional, and simply un-American," he continued. "Christians must pray and respond to this emergency situation by urging their representatives to vote against this dangerous bill," Marcavage concluded.

H.R. 254 looks like it will pass both houses of the new Democrat-controlled Congress. We must appeal to the President to veto this legislation.

Last night, the Governor of Missouri delivered his State of the State address. It was a little better than President Bush’s State of the Union speech. Remarkably, our pro-life President made no statements about protecting life. And this was one day after the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that gave American legal abortion-on-demand through the entire 9 months of the baby’s development. Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council gave an excellent response to the President’s rather empty address.

Governor Blunt did mention getting $200,000 into the budget for pregnancy resource centers, which offer truthful and candid information about all options. I am grateful for that. This governor has been solid and faithful in his opposition to the horrors of abortion.

However, he did not mention ending Planned Parenthood’s tax funded monopoly of sex-education in the public school arena. And he didn’t talk about his aggressive insistence of giving public money to the biotech industry for embryonic stem cell research through the sale of loans by the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), a position that contradicts what being “pro-life” is all about.

Overall, the Governor sounded a lot like the President. Fiscally responsible Republicans should be proud. Morally minded Republicans should be stunned. I am hopeful we’ll see more than we’ve heard.

Detroit's Auto Show

We still live in a sex-saturated culture. Newsweek magazine, publicizing Detroit’s car show blurped:

For Americans, car shows have always been about desire, as automakers tempt us with brawny novel engines, sleek new shapes and lush (often leather) interiors. And what better way to generate excitement than with a bevy of attractive young women showing off your wares? Yes, it may be sexist, but the car companies still do it. The 2007 North American International Auto Show, which kicked off Sunday in Detroit and is on view to the public Jan. 13-21, hasn't disappointed those of us who lust after the new car models of today and the fantastic concept cars of tomorrow.

Hey, when it comes to new cars, my lust (coveting) is already in high gear. I don't need flesh to add to my carnality.

Kudos to NEWSWEEK's Detroit bureau chief, Keith Naughton, whose photo shots showed us the cars, not the women.

If you’re going to surprise me on my birthday, skip DaimlerChrysler's Smart 'fortwo' model as well as Ford’s Airstream. My personal favorite is the Efijy concept car from GM's Australian brand, Holden. The Chinese actually call this a pickup?

A Victorious Birth

Christmas teaches us that God always overcomes evil. It's usually the resurrection of Jesus that gets associated with "victory" but Jesus’ entry into our world was also a victorious event. Consider just a few of the events surrounding the first Christmas.

Caesar Augustus was one of Rome’s most successful leaders. He ruled from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. Somewhere around year 0 (people who study these things quibble over the exact year), he issued a taxation decree to insure the power and perpetuity of the Roman empire. Little did he know that by so doing, he guaranteed the end of the Roman empire and all other earthly kingdoms. While trying to financially boost the strength of his domestic and foreign policies, he was being used by God to fulfill ancient prophecy. Micah said around 700 B.C. that Israel’s everlasting ruler would come from Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary, however, lived in the city of Nazareth. If Jesus was born there, he could not have been the Messiah. But Augustus’ taxation decree got Joseph and Mary to the city of Bethlehem.

King Herod was Augustus’ appointee for the region of Jerusalem. When he heard the news of a prophesied king being born, he issued a decree to kill all newborn males up to two years of age. That evil decree got Joseph and Mary moving again, this time down to Egypt, out of Herod’s jurisdiction where they stayed until his death. Around 725 B.C. God spoke to the prophet Hosea, telling him that He would call His Son out of Egypt. Had Joseph and Mary sought refuge in any other region, Jesus could not have been God’s Son. But through the decrees of two selfish and oppressive rulers, God brought forth an everlasting ruler who will soon establish His eternal kingdom.

So remember, in the evils that you face, God is working to bring a beautiful picture of love, hope and victory. Don’t get so preoccupied by all the stuff that is going wrong that you lose sight of our God who works behind the scenes of human history, but whose will always triumphs.

The worst evil humanity has ever faced is our own sin. It alienates us from our God. Our character does not allow us to change and there is nothing we can do to hide our sin. God’s character does not allow Him to forget about our sin. He must judge it in His holy wrath. This is a terrible predicament, but Christmas fixes the problem. Jesus is our bridge. His death on the cross allows us to change our nature and allows God to declare us righteous. Praise Jesus! He is our peace.

A Thanksgiving Meditation

I’m technologically challenged. I’ve learned to live without my laptop (though some days/weeks it’s hard), so if I am to post anything regarding Thanksgiving, it will have to be today…right now…while I have accessed to my desktop computer.

One of my favorite things is to relish in the history of American Thanksgiving. I like to revisit the times when “thanksgiving” meant focusing on God and thanking Him for His blessings—not just a holiday with food and family. I’m not sure I really want to replace the Albert family football game with a three hour sermon “in ye meeting house” like those early Pilgrims did. But I do think we forget how seriously our former countrymen took thanksgiving occasions.

Consider, for instance, the town council of Charlestown, Massachusetts. The were having a rough time getting established in 1676, but on June 20 of that year, they convened a meeting to determine how they could best express their gratitude to God for the blessings they were experiencing. By unanimous vote, they instructed their clerk, Edward Rawson, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It was the first time a governing body in America issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation. Here is what they said:

"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."

The Continental Congress on November 1, 1777 issued a proclamation, stating within it that “…it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received…”

The next year the Continental Congress set “…the 30th day of December next, to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and praise, that all the people may, with united hearts, on that day, express a just sense of his unmerited favors; particularly in that it hath pleased him, by his overruling providence, to support us in a just and necessary war, for the defense of our rights and liberties…”

The following year (1789) they “…recommended to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States…”

In modern times, it has been our Presidents, more than our Congresses, that have offered proclamations inviting Americans to give thanks to God.

George Washington started the tradition writing: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…” and in responding to the request of Congress for a national day of thanksgiving, Washington stated:

I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

Lincoln, as the 16th President asked Americans to “set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens…”

Eloquent words of thanks to God are pretty well relegated to the past. President Bush’s proclamation failed to call us to give our thanks to God for His blessings. In pluralistic America, many don’t want to be too precise in acknowledging the exact source of our prosperity and freedom.

So let us revive an old tradition; that of praising and thanking God for His manifold blessing upon our country. Let us gratefully acknowledge His gifts to these United States of America.

A Thought from Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.*
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!


This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving Psalms. Though the word “thanks” is not used, the psalm certainly reveals many reasons why we should be grateful to God. Foremost among them, is that He does not remember our sins. Through His Son Jesus, He has removed my transgressions from me. I will bless the Lord for this kind act!

The Battle of Agincourt, Shakespeare and Missouri’s Clone-to-Kill Amendment 2

If you haven’t yet heard, Amendment 2 was approved by Missourians. As of this writing, the Secretary of State has listed the results of 3672 of Missouri’s 3734 precincts. The amendment received 1,059,202 yes votes (51.1%) and 1,013,850 no votes (48.9%).

So unless those remaining 62 precincts are extremely lopsided, we lost.

Nearly 200 years after the famous Battle of Agincourt, where King Henry V battled the French near the port city of Calais, William Shakespeare in 1599 put poetic eloquence into the mouth of King Henry in a rousing speech that has become known in drama circles as St. Crispen’s Day Speech.

King Harry had recaptured several cities in Northwestern France that once had been in English possession. His military campaign weakened his troop strength because of the distance from England and disease. The English were blocked from escape by overwhelming French numbers near the field of Agincourt. Their prospects bleak and morale low, here is the speech Shakespeare put into the lips of King Henry V:

St. Crispen's Day Speech
William Shakespeare, 1599

[Enter the King]

WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

We have now a band of brothers--pastors and laypeople who have “spilled their blood” in a noble battle. It didn’t work out for us quite like it did for the English on St. Crispen’s day. But we fought valiantly. Already, political scientists across Missouri are scratching their heads, wondering how this election came so close considering the vast sums of money Mr. Stowers poured into the campaign. Statistically, we should have been trounced. We weren’t. We were motivated only by truth and love for our fellow man. There were no promises of profits awaiting us, only ridicule that we would be so cold-hearted as to oppose cures for suffering and sick people.

I am happy and proud to have fought this battle alongside of such wonderful, precious, courageous and stalwart people.

A Multi-headed Beast

I don’t know if it was a compliment or a slam when Connie Farrow, spokeswoman for the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, recently told David Lieb of the Associated Press “Our opponents are a multi-headed beast, and we've yet to see all of its [sic] faces."

Working for the Coalition, I know Ms. Farrow is accustomed to seeing only the face of Jim Stowers (and maybe his wife Virginia) who has bankrolled virtually the entire cost of promoting Amendment 2 (nearly $30 million). Ms. Farrow is right for a change. Amendment 2 is so riddled with deceptions, immoralities and inconsistencies that there are a host of opponents, ranging all the way from traditional Christians like the Missouri Baptist Convention, to liberal feminists like Hands Off My Ovaries.

But I think to see the beast Ms. Farrow should locate a looking glass.

It is the Coalition’s amendment that bears beastly qualities. Opponents of Amendment 2 seek to protect human life, not clone it to kill it to research it to manipulate it to profit from it. It is not beastly for persons with diseases and injuries to oppose a proposal that potentially might offer them cures. It is sacrificial and honorable for them to oppose it. They rightly see the immorality of destroying human life to supposedly benefit human life and they are willing to suffer with their diseases rather than see human life degraded into a research commodity.

Neither is it beastly to protect women. We are already rushing to protect women who might find themselves in difficult financial circumstances and become lured into giving their bodies to researchers for promises of money. Risks of egg harvesting are present and given the astronomical need for female eggs to accomplish the needed research, the statistical numbers of women who will face health problems is alarming. Rather the beast is on the other side—viewing real women with names and faces and life stories as mere egg donors to be enticed into extraction by the promise of dollars.

And what beastly quality is exhibited by protecting Missouri taxpayers from having to fund this immoral practice? Or preserving the legislative process, allowing for reconsideration and even oversight of public spending? What beastly attribute is exuded by preserving 45 sections of the Missouri Constitution (3 of which are within the Bill of Rights), sections which may well be changed, repealed or modified if Amendment 2 is approved?

We are multi-headed to be sure. But we are no beast. Join me tomorrow in slaying the real beast facing Missouri and vote NO on Amendment 2.

Christian Persecution is Real

One of the often overlooked stories on the war in Iraq against terrorism is the persecution of Christians there. We often forget that fundamental rights we cherish so much in America aren’t even close to a reality in other parts of the world. Even the New York times recently published an article chronicling the abuses of Christians in Iraq. I hate to publish my conservative cynicism, but if the Times is writing about something I care about, you know things must be bad.

Compass Direct chronicled one brutal example—the kidnapping of Boulos Iskander, a 59 year old Syrian Orthodox priest. He was snatched from the streets of Mosul on Monday, October 9 while shopping for car parts at area mechanic shops. His Muslim captors made demands of ransom and that the priest’s church distance itself from Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks about Islam in his lecture in Germany last month. Those requests were complied with but his kidnappers killed him anyway. His body was discovered last Thursday, his head, arms and legs having been severed from his torso.

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church will soon be here, but it is never too soon to pray. Christians throughout the world are paying a high price to follow Jesus.

A Great Quote & A Great Reminder

E.M. Bounds, the great Methodist pastor/author, in his book Power Through Prayer, writes in chapter 4 (Tendencies to be Avoided):

It is impossible for the preacher to keep his spirit in harmony with the divine nature of his high calling without much prayer. That the preacher by dint of duty and laborious fidelity to the work and routine of the ministry can keep himself in trim and fitness is a serious mistake. Even sermon-making, incessant and taxing as an art, as a duty, as a work, or as a pleasure, will engross and harden, will estrange the heart, by neglect of prayer, from God. The scientist loses God in nature. The preacher may lose God in his sermon.

Some very powerful words to think about. I intend not to lose God.